What’s this “needs a rest” BS ?
They had a bye a few weeks ago.
He’s old and is showing it and has been all last and this year.
No issue with continuing to play him if they want to send him out without dropping him but he simply can not play next year under any circumstances.
Agree we need to move past bj.
NEVER!
Oh … Goddard …
Lets keep playing him mo matter the short breaks and travel.
And don’t allow him to use the soft Hangar training surfaces either.
Make him exempt from tackling too…
big decision by Goddard and club over his future coming up
Will Brendon Goddard play on in 2019?
Essendon’s oldest and most experienced player is having another solid season in the red and black – his sixth at the club since crossing from St Kilda – and has shown he is still a valuable member of the side.
However, he is out of contract, with a decision to be made in coming weeks about his future.
Coach John Worsfold said on Wednesday the Bombers will revisit talks with the 33-year-old before the end of the season to get a gauge on Goddard’s plans.
"The discussion with Brendon and the club will happen later in the year. The way he’s playing right now, he could still be a valuable part of our squad next year," Worsfold said.
"It will be a collective discussion. I had a chat with Brendon earlier in the year and I will follow up with him over the next month."
At the end of 2012, Goddard became football’s first high-profile free agent to change clubs, and he has finished in the top-five of Essendon’s best and fairest in all five of his completed seasons. He would be in the running to do that again in 2018.
The 328-gamer has been remarkably durable throughout his career and has played every game this season, averaging 23.5 disposals.
He can play in the midfield or in a sweeping role across half-back, but the Bombers do have young depth in the back-half, with Aaron Francis and Jordan Ridley playing at VFL level and Martin Gleeson to come back into the line-up next year after injury.
Worsfold said the Bombers would need to consider the youth on the list when considering what Goddard could bring next year if he played on.
"When you look at your list and what you’ve got available, that’s what shapes the decisions you make about your squad going forward," he said.
"We have to weigh up what’s on our list, what role Brendon offers us and how we want to use him.
"If I said to him that all those players had gone past him and you’re welcome to stay but we’ll play you in the VFL all year, he may not decide to want to play on.
“That’s an unknown at the moment. At the moment, it’s pretty hard for anyone to say they can come in and offer more than what Brendon’s doing.”
The Bombers head into Saturday’s clash with Fremantle with their finals hopes still intact, and could welcome back important pair Orazio Fantasia (adductor) and David Zaharakis (shoulder) from injury.
Kyle Langford has helped fill the midfield void after Zaharakis’ round 11 injury, and in the past month he has averaged 21 disposals a game.
Langford is also out of contract at the end of the season, with Worsfold saying talks were progressing to extend the 21-year-old’s stay at Tullamarine.
He also praised Langford for learning on the run in his midfield position.
“He’s hasn’t played a lot of AFL midfield footy. He might’ve played two games there last year and maybe six there this year, so considering he’s in his first dozen games in the midfield in the AFL, I think he’s showing a lot of growth,” Worsfold said.
330+ games is a fair effort, go out while your still playing some good footy BJ.
He will want to go round again IMO
Look at Shane Crawford who was cooked injury wise most of 2007 but played that year with the lure of a flag. BJ heartbreak from going so close with saints would still burn him.
We are one of the form teams of the comp now since it all clicked post Carlton and only going to be better again in 2019.
Woosh’s comments still seem to indicate they will want him to stay believing his output better than others.
Its Dea / Ambrose etc who will be moved to allow for the upcoming kids most likely.
Interesting end of year coming up. Perhaps he does decide its time himself and selflessly moves aside.
We are only just able to cover his defensive liabilities now.
No way does he make it to next years finals.
If he goes around again he’s facing the very likely prospect of being dropped for not being up to it anymore.
I actually think he will play on in 2019.
I would hope that the club inform him that regular VFL stints would be the norm whilst we develop our young half backs in the AFL.
He also needs to embrace the term “managed”, whatever level he is playing.
If we are there at the pointy end, who’s to say he can’t come in and be a solid contributor if injury or form of other players provide him with that opportunity ?
I’ve only read the article, not actually watched the press conference, but it seems like Woosha essentially gave 2 hypotheticals at either end of the scale. So he was sitting in the fence rather than leaning either way imo.
I actually think if Woosha wanted Goddard to stay on, he’d publicly say that. He might eventually decide that anyway, but I suspect Woosha is 50/50 on it right now
Absolute club champion and feel he still has something to add, particularly on the development side (similar to Kelly in his last year). There is just no way that I want him keeping any of Redman, Ridley or Francis out of the team next year. Unfortunately for BJ, he is playing a role in which we have some very promising youth knocking down the door - if we didn’t, it would be a no-brainer that he plays on.
Not unreasonable. They’re jobbers.
I watched the presser now
He followed up with comment - “leadership, versatility and overall performance he is still offering a huge amount”
Yeah, I agree with this.
Cats situation is still very different to ours, they’d won their flags, ageing list and were sliding down ladder. Also out of finals contention.
Hawks more appropriate with Crawf hanging on just for the first flag and then that talented young team kicked on for a 3-peat.
–
We should just make finals and then win the flag this year and he’ll hang the boots up and assist with directing (pointing) the movie.
He will and should play on in 2019. His form hasn’t wavered, EVER! He has been Top five in the B & F every single year at Essendon and has also hardly missed a game.
He will play to approx 350+ and his leadership and value is still very very strong, and he will finish top 4-8 again in B & F this year. So glad he is at our club.
As Woosha said, when others are actually offering more than him, then its time to hang up the boots. This is simply not the case.
His form has wavered heaps over the last two seasons.
Yes between second and fifth in the B & F. look at his stats.
he was looking suspect nearing the end of last season, and has looked suspect at times this season.